The Northland District Health Board has issued a "low-risk" legionella alert here today. This comes after the board found positives for legionella bacteria in five patients in different localities in the region.

Talking to NZPA, Dr. Loek Henneveld, Northland Medical Officer of Health, said, “Northland normally had just two or three cases of legionnaire’s disease a year. So this is an increase and we've issued the risk alert to put out word about the disease and its symptoms to tell people to be aware".

Legionnaires' disease is a respiratory infection caused by Legionella bacteria, which are commonly found in water and soils, including potting mix and compost. It is not passed from contagious, but the bacteria are inhaled from water vapor, aerosols or compost/ potting mix dust. The infection can be mild or more serious, in the latter case; it can prove to be fatal.

Dr Henneveld says, “The most likely cause for the present increase in Legionellosis is the unusually warm, and at times humid, weather conditions. So we are sending out a broad alert to gardeners, owners of building with cooling towers and public spa pool owners”.

No deaths have occurred and only one of the five patients has needed hospital treatment so far.